Clearwater, Fla - The SCF softball team (24-18, 6-6 Suncoast) completed their first sweep of round robin play as they defeated Hillsborough (12-28, 1-11 Suncoast) 9-0 via the eight-run mercy rule and Polk State (13-19, 4-6 Suncoast) 4-3 at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. As a result, the Manatees claimed both series against the Hawks and the Eagles.
"Today, we had to great team wins," said head coach Mandy Schueraman. "It feels good every time we play well and win. Game one, our was a little more solid than game two where we faltered a little. Sam (Hampton) and Remi (Hebert) pounded the zone really well, which help our success and Mya (Achenbach), Gracie (Mullett) and Rylee (Trice) all had exceptional days at the plate and it was the first day that we hit during the games how we hit in practice, so I was very happy with our offensive performance today."
"Today, we showed out as a team in every aspect hitting to fielding to pitching," said sophomore Samantha Hampton. "We were all on it all day. I think we finally showed that we are capable of taking two from any team."
"I felt like our team played great overall today," said freshman Rylee Trice. "Going into today, I knew both teams wanted to beat us and we were going to have to make plays and hit well."
SCF vs HCC:
Schuerman sent Hampton to the mound, while HCC head coach Elizabeth Holloman went with sophomore Ashleigh Penix.
The Manatees would get on the board early as sophomore Mya Achenbach would hit a leadoff solo homer to center for her fourth of the season.
After the next two innings went scoreless, the Manatees decided to extend their lead at the top of the fourth beginning with freshman Liv Siebert drawing a leadoff walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball. With Siebert in scoring position, sophomore Gracie Mullett would send a single to center to bring in Sibert. After freshman Tori Copeland hit a single of her own, Trice would make her moment shine as she sent a three-run homer to left for her first collegiate home run of the season.
"Hitting my first home run felt great knowing that I did my job at the plate," said Trice on her first collegiate home run.
After freshman Gabi Nicholson hit a single and stole second, it signaled the end for Penix as Holloman would send freshman Riley Fromberg to the mound. After the pitching change, freshman Chantel Schurr would reach second on a fielding error while Nicholson scored to make it 6-0 SCF.
At the top of the fifth, the Manatees added their final runs of the game. After Siebert and freshman Mikayla DeSantis hit back-to-back singles, with Siebert stealing second before sophomore Remi Hebert came in to pinch run, Mullett would send a single to center to bring in Hebert. Copeland would then hit a sacrifice fly and bring in DeSantis before Trice sent a double to right to bring in Mullett for a 9-0 SCF lead before the Manatees closed the door with the mercy rule win.
Hampton would move to 10-8 after a five-inning five-hit shutout with one walk and three strikeouts.
"My pitching was not my best job today, but I went out there and did my job the best I could," said Hampton on her game. "Having my defense behind me every step of the way was great, especially since we started stringing hits together and taking advantage of the other team's mistakes."
Penix would fall to 4-5 after giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts in three innings while going 1-for-1 at the plate. Fromberg would give up three runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts in two innings of relief.
Trice would be the leader offensively as she went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Mullett would follow as she went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs.
Achenbach and Copeland were both 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run each, while Nicholson (1-for-3, one run and one stolen base), Siebert (1-for-2, one run and two stolen bases) and DeSantis (1-for-3, one run) had the remaining three hits. Schurr (one stolen base), Hebert (one run) and sophomore Alli Bloski (one walk) also contributed in the game.
For the Hawks, aside from Penix, sophomores Amanda Denis, Olivia Davis and Raelin McCallister and freshman Jaydah Stroup had the remaining hits.
SCF vs Polk State:
For game two, Schuerman went with Hebert to pitch the second game, while Polk State head coach Donna Byars went with sophomore Stephanie Derringer.
The Manatees, who were the home team for game two, would get on early at the top of the first after Achenbach drew a lead-off walk, stole second and advance to third on a Trice sacrifice bunt before scoring on a passed ball.
After the second inning went scoreless, Achenbach would extend the lead further as she hit a solo homer to right for her fifth of the season and second of the doubleheader. After Trice drew a walk, Byars would pull Derringer and send sophomore Sophia Palazini to the mound. Trice would then steal second before DeSantis would draw a walk. Trice and DeSantis would then pull a double steal to get into scoring position before Trice scored after Mullett reached first on a fielding error to make it 3-0 SCF.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Manatees would add their final run as Mullett would single to left to bring in Achenbach to make it 4-0 SCF.
At the top of the seventh, the Eagles would finally get on the board as freshman Alma Fernandez would hit an RBI single to make 4-1 still in SCF's favor. They would then load the bases and cut the deficit to 4-34 after sophomore Mackenzie Nix reached on a fielding error, but the Manatees were still able to pull away with the win after Palanzini popped out to end the game.
"It felt good to go out there today and take two wins to seal the deal of us taking the series against both teams," said Hampton.
Hebert would earn her ninth win of the season after throwing a complete game, giving up three runs (one earned) on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. She is now 9-5 on the year.
Derringer would fall to 4-7 after giving up three runs (one earned) on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts in two innings. Palazini gave up one run on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts in four innings of relief.
Achenbach would be the leader in game two as she went 2-for-2 with a home run, three runs, a walk and two stolen bases. She was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game in game two and finished the doubleheader 3-for-5 with two home runs, two RBI, four runs scored and two stolen bases.
Mullett followed finishing 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk while finishing the series 3-for-5 with four RBI and a walk. Schurr had the remaining hit as she went 1-for-3 with a triple.
Trice (one run, one walk and two stolen bases), Copeland (one walk), DeSantis (two walks and a stolen base), Nicholson (one stolen base) and freshman Sam Carlin (one walk) also contributed in the game.
Fernandez and freshman Jennie Brogdon both were 2-for-3 at the plate. Brogdon added a run and the lone RBI.
Notes:
With the sweep, Schuerman earned win #237 and #238. She needs 12 to reach 250 wins and three to surpass Meredith Heading (240, 2007-14) for second all-time in wins as head coach.
Other Suncoast Scores:
#3 FSW (35-4, 10-0 Suncoast) swept their part of the round robin as they defeated Polk State 6-2 and SPC (29-19, 7-5 Suncoast) 8-0 (5).
SPC defeated HCC 4-3 before losing to #3 FSW.
Suncoast Standings:
1. #3 FSW (35-4, 10-0)
2. SPC (29-19, 7-5)
3. SCF (24-18, 6-6)
4. Polk (13-19, 4-6)
5. HCC (12-28, 1-11)
Up Next:
The Manatees will look forward to returning home as they welcome SPC to the SCF Softball Complex for a doubleheader Tuesday night, April 12 at 5 and 7 pm.
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